Method of protecting preformed furniture panel grooves



W. F. FOX PROTEC METHOD OF TING PREF'ORMED FURNITURE PANEL GROOVES July 25, 1950 Filed Oct. 5, 1948 u lm. .1 mx 0 HI mF WF 0 M M. W

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Patented July 25, 950

V ME'rnonoF momma Rememb- FURNITURE PANEL-.GBOOYES 1 Claim.

l f. Thepresent invention relates to a novel method of'ma'king an article of manufacture, and more specifically to a novel method of preparing a furniture panel for the insertion of a decorative molding strip into a complementary groove in the panel.

In accordance with prior art practices, wood panels on which molding is provided are cut to size and finished in such a way that the rough panel has integral molding, beads or strips projecting from the overall fiat surface of the panel. Then the rough panel is smooth sanded, filled, sealed, stained, and lacquered (being rubbed and sanded between coats). The molding may comprise a simple decorative pattern, perhaps a quadrangle, or it may represent a complex decorative theme. In either case time-consuming, expensive labor and extreme precaution must be devoted to delicate sanding, filling, sealing, staining, rubbing, lacquering and finishing operations adjacent to the molding, and to leveling down the overall fiat surface below the molding. The number of these operations is so large that the time and expense factor involved in the precise and careful treatment close to the molding is very great. This factor is aggravated when the molding is of a color or finish different from the remainder of the panel.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a. novel method of making a panel with molding which comprises the successive steps of routing a groove into the panel, inserting a dummy filler into the groove, finishing the panel, then removing the dummy filler, and finally securing in the groove a separately finished molding strip. In the practice of this method the finishing operations on the panel are performed with the dummy in place, and they require no precautions other than those required in treating the overall surface of the panel.

For a better understanding of the present invention, together with other and further objects, advantages and capabilities thereof, reference is made to the following description of a preferred illustrative embodiment thereof, to the appended claim, and to the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. l is a perspective view of a panel to be processed in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the panel after the groove has been cut out by the router;

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the panel as taken on line 33 of Fig. 2, looking in the direction of the arrows;

William Francis Fox, Cincir'iriati, Ohio, assignor to Avco Manufacturing"Corporation; Oincin 'nati, Ohio, a corporation of Delaware Application October 5,1948,SerialNo.5 2,897

. 2 Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the cord or string dummy whichis inserted in the panel groove before'tlie fiinishing operations are performed;

Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing the dummy in place in the panel groove;

Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the separate molding strip taken on line 6-6 of Fig. 7;

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the molding strip;

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the panel with molding in place;

Fig. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the complete product, taken on line 9-9 of Fig. 8; and

Fig. 10 is a sectional view of a prior-art panel with integral molding.

Referring now to Fig. 1, there is shown a hardwood panel l0, cut to the desired size and preferably first rough sanded before performance of other operations. A router or other conventional tool is employed to cut out a groove or depression H (Figs. 2, 3) complementary to the web ll of a T-shaped separate molding insert or strip ll (Figs. 6, 7).

The molding l3 comprises a web section I! and an integral flange section l4 and is preferably of extruded plastic composition. The molding is preferably made from any of the reasonably hard plastics and can be formed either cold or with heat. Its geometrical configuration (Fig. 7) conforms to that of the groove (Fig. 2).

After the groove H is routed, a dummy, comprising cord or string l5 (Figs. 4, 5), is inserted into the groove, in order to prevent shaving and finishing material from filling the groove.

Next the desired finishing operations are performed on panel 10; fine sanding, filling, sealing, staining and lacqueringwith the required sandings and rubbings between coats. It is to be particularly noted that the standard of care and precision work during finishing is established by the overall flat surface of the panel III, the dummy cord "5 not imposing the heretofore higher standard required for the finishing operations.

After the finishing operations have been completed the dummy cord I5 is withdrawn from the opening and the separate molding strip I3 is pressed into place (Fig. 8) on the panel, the web l2 conforming to the groove H, and the flange l4 tightly overlapping the groove. Cement I6 is employed where necessary (Fig. 9), the number of spots to which cement is applied being determined by the length and shape of the strip I3.

In Fig. 10 there is shown a sectional view of a. conventional panel provided with molding. It will be seen that the Fig. 9 panel, in accordance regarded as the preferred embodiment of the invention, it will be understood that various changes and modificationsmay be made therein.

without departing from the invention as defined by the appended claim.

Having fully described and disclosed the invention, I claim:

The method of protecting a pre-formed'fumh ture panel groove prior to insertion of a. decorativemolding str p. which comprises the steps of inserting a dummy cord into said pro-formed furniture panel groove before the panel is smoothed,

.file of this patent;

4 smoothing and finish coating said panel, and removing said dummy cord from said pre-iormed groove after the last finish coating has been applied to said panel, thereby protecting and maintaining said pre-formed grooving in condition to receive said decorative strip.

- WILLIAM FRANCIS FOX.

REFERENCES CITED :The following references are of record in the UNITED STATES PATENTS 1 Number Name Date 127,353 Knipfer May 28, 1872 230,776 Hilpert Aug. 3, 1880 307,483 McClain Nov. 4, 1884 486,590 Rauseh Nov. 22, 1892 1,416,212 Kaufmann May 16, 1922 1,804,024 Nicolas et a1 May 5, 1931 I 2,131,900 Morgan Oct. 4,1938 2,339,865 Larmour Jan. 25, 1944 

